Campervan Interior: Building out your van

So you went ahead and did it: the van that’s going to be your home is yours!

But what now?

While van shopping, it’s easy to have a dreamy, Pinterest-inspired idea of what your build will be like. But once the van is bought, scrubbed down, and stripped, it can feel more than a little overwhelming.

For a lot of us, coming up with campervan interior ideas is harder than choosing the right vehicle!

So how can you get started with your van layout if you’re feeling lost?

Coming up with campervan interior ideas

As enticing as it sounds to just dive in and start sketching out daydream doodles of your dream campervan interior, start by making a clear list of everything that isn’t negotiable in your build.

Want a table or desk for working?

What size bed do you need?

How much storage space is essential?

What type of cooking will you do?

Do you really need a bathroom?

Write down every single thing that matters to you and that you can’t live without once you move into your campervan.

For my husband and me, those things were musical instruments and cute outfits.

The key was that we stayed honest with ourselves about what we didn’t want to live without – and you should too.

It may be nice to fantasize about becoming a person who eats only salads, makes digital art, and has a minimalist capsule wardrobe. But if you love to bake bread and have an enviable ugly sweater collection, ask yourself if you’d be happy living life without those things.

The whole point of moving into a van is to get happy and experience freedom – and you’re missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime if you aren’t staying true to yourself in the process.

Ask yourself if you’re really the kind of person who can shower exclusively at the gym – or if you need a shower in your van.

Do you need a composting toilet or are you down to squat outside?

Once you have these things all outlined on paper (or a spreadsheet, if you’re the organized type), it’s time for the next step.

My husband and I have a roughly twenty-gallon freshwater tank – and wish we had a bit more.

We keep eight extra gallons in two large jugs in one corner of our truck camper to keep us from having to refill so often.

Think about how much you’ll use, how much you drink, and your hygiene needs, and make sure you have the space to run as much piping as you’ll need to make it a reality.

Electrical considerations for your campervan layout

The final thing to consider before you’re ready for the fun part of laying out all the good stuff?

Electricity.

If you plan on having a space heater, fan, lights, water pump, or charging station, you need to know your battery situation, how you’ll wire it, where you’ll place outlets, and how large of a storage space you’ll need for batteries.

Whew. Sound like a lot?

Just go one step at a time, and remember, if you plug away at it, you make all your wildest van dreams come true.

For example, we use one battery and two solar panels. With that, we can use a masticating juicer, an immersion blender, charge our devices, and power our lights and two fans.

Our old setup let us use our A/C (within reason), an induction plate, and a fridge, but took up almost the entire cabinet beneath our sink, leaving only enough room for a one-gallon freshwater tank (yikes).

Keeping all of these basics in mind will inform your campervan build and guide you as you get into the fun part.

Kitchen van conversion ideas

My favorite part of any home, a van kitchen serves a million purposes.

It’s where we brush our teeth and wash our face, as well as cook our meals and wash the dishes. A campervan kitchen also serves as storage for just about everything (food, pans, spices, cleaning supplies – you name it).

When you plan your camper kitchen, try doodling a few different layouts:

Storage space in your campervan interior

Storage, storage, storage. Even back in those simple days of a bed platform and cold brew made in a gallon pickle jar (and before that, even in our very first van with a nest of blankets and no bed frame at all), we knew that storage was key.

If you’re just moving into a van and think it’ll be easy because you’re a minimalist, think again.

Even if you don’t have a collection of Halloween costumes, you’re going to need more storage than you think.

Think creatively about where to stash those extra storage bins and cupboards.

Where will you put your shoes?

How about cleaning supplies?

What’s your spice rack situation?

What’s your plan for stashing mail and important documents?

Rhody and I hung a shoe rack on one of our doors, which doubled as a place for our umbrella and other small items.

For surplus storage, we found whatever and wherever we could store things was a bonus.

Our most genius move?

Repurposing inbox trays from IKEA and installing them as hanging baskets beneath all of our cabinets. We have five of these, which are essential storage for:

Below your hammock (which you could stash to the side during the day), you could have space to do yoga, keep a low-lying table (seated on cushions around the floor), access extra storage more easily, or store your bike safely.

The options are really endless, but in exchange, you’d have to be comfortable sleeping in a hammock night after night.

Whatever you choose, make sure you keep the weight as evenly distributed as possible throughout the camper.

Changing the structure of your campervan

One last thing to consider in your layout is what you will do to the van frame itself- if anything – meaning cutting holes to the outside.

The most common modification is an RV roof vent or a fan, which requires a 14×14 hole in your roof.

Most campers need one, and it’s a necessity if you’re using propane for heating or cooking.

But thinking beyond just a fan, consider if you plan on having skylights.

My husband and I have an emergency exit above our bed, which we crack open each night, and it’s my favorite part of living in our current camper. The cool night air and sound of trees (or trains) helps me fall asleep each night. And because it’s large enough to fit our bodies through, it makes cleaning solar panels a breeze.

But it’s not just about the roof: for any propane or power needs, you’ll need hatches and vents in the sides of your walls.

If you’d like shore power, you need to figure out where you’d position a plug to connect to the inside. Knowing how you’ll deal with these things safely is crucial before you actually dive into designing your van layout.

Designing your van layout

Now that you know exactly what you’d like to put in your van, and what your power, water, and propane needs are, you’re finally ready to start laying it all out. There are many different ways to do this, but it’s always a smart decision to begin by sketching it out on paper.

Let yourself think pretty liberally in these first stages – there’s no wrong way to brainstorm! Just keep any hurdles like wheel wells or windows in mind, as well as your dimensions in mind (and remember, most van walls are curved).

No matter how you plan to layout your campervan, make sure your weight is evenly distributed.

In listing all the items you plan to put in your van, jot down rough weight estimates. This helps you figure out where to position everything in your camper.

Your new home is also a vehicle, and the brakes, tires, and frame all need to be taken care of while these massive renovations are going on inside. Keeping it organized and balanced keeps you safe and helps your van run smoothly for a long time.

Creating a digital design of your campervan interior

Once you have a rough sketch, consider using a free software program like SketchUp, which lets you create 3D layouts. These can help you get a more detailed look at your van layout – although I’ve read there’s a steep learning curve for getting comfortable with the software.

Use a stencil to create your campervan interior design

If digital rendering isn’t your thing, you can just go analog from the get-go and create a stencil of your entire floor.

Red rosin paper is a great option, and what I used when I did my own van build.

Your campervan’s furniture dimensions

Once you have a stencil of your floorplan, figure out the dimensions of your furniture.

Draw these out in charcoal or pencil. Stenciling is a powerful way to see exactly how much (or how little) space your new home will have, and helps you find out whether you can actually pull off all your goals, or if you maybe need to opt for a smaller sink or scrap your whole bed plan and start over.

While stenciling, keep in mind the depth of your finished walls, look out for how a curved body may change your dimensions, and factor in window positions.

Use faux furniture to test your campervan layout

Although this may seem a little over the top, one way to be sure of your campervan layout is to make cardboard replicas of your furniture, then rearrange them in your van to see what works.

No matter the way you design your layout, remember to keep in mind a solution that brings you joy and works for you. How does your own size and ability fit into your layout? This is your home, not an Instagram influencer’s, and you deserve to be comfortable in a home that shines with your unique body, ability, and needs.

Get inspired by other campervan interiors

Look over all our other van articles at The Wayward Home for more inspiration on campervan layouts that work for your budget, ability, and space.

About Nikita Andester

In 2015, Nikita and her husband traveled for several months across the country in Bonnie, a 2004 E-250, bathing in nature, exploring sleepy towns, and selling herbal body products at the flea market. In 2017, they renovated Bonnie on a budget and lived in her full-time for five months before upgrading to Doug, their truck camper, where they've lived since January 2018. When she isn't writing articles, Nikita can be found working on her novel, exploring, taking film photos, or cooking up a storm. She also writes for ethical.net.

Hi, I'm Kristin Hanes! I live in a sailboat and in a van, and am editor-in-chief of The Wayward Home, a site all about a new type of American Dream. Stick around to learn about campervans, RV living, sailboats and tiny homes. Head to my About Me page to learn more.

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